CAR NEWS

The world of the classic and sport cars auctioning ha just be reshaped. Auction giant Christie’s just bought classic car auction specialist Gooding & Co. for an undisclosed sum. It must have been a heck of an undisclosed sum because Gooding really rakes in the money on its auctions. The recent Pebble Beach auctions, for instance, brought in $109 million with an 82% sell-through rate, including $14 million for an Alfa 8C and $5 million for a Ferrari 333 SP Evoluzione. 

Gooding &  Co. auctioned a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider at Amelia Island last year for $18,045,000.

Lando Norris on McLaren won the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and the teammate Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen leads the drivers championship by 52 points from Lando Norris after the Singapore Grand Prix. All the standings are now with 18 out of 24 races complete. Points available for drivers championship over remaining rounds are 180 and the gap between Verstappen and Norris are only 52. 

In the other standings for the constructions championship the points available over remaining rounds are 309 and the gap between McLaren, right now the leader, and Red Bull is 41 points. Leclerc on Ferrari was  able to recover after a bad qualification and starting from ninth, he arrived fifth. Driver of the day was Daniel Ricciardo, who was able to steal a point from Norris setting the fastest lap with his Visa Cash app RB car, despite his future in F1 seems right now not so sure.

While Porsche claimed victory in the penultimate hypercar round of the World Endurance Championship at Fuji circuit in Japan to close in on the 2024 drivers’ title, and the Ferrari AF corse arrived only ninth, Ferrari scored its first victory in the new-for-2024 LMGT3 class, with Davide Rigon, Francesco Castellacci, and Thomas Flohr taking the top spot in the #54 AF Corse 296 GT3. Second place for the Porsche team. 

The final place on the podium went the multiple times Motogp Champion Valentino Rossi, with his team and the other two drivers Maxime Martin, and Ahmad Al Harty, marking the second visit to the rostrum for the #46 WRT BMW M4 GT3 crew. 

Piastri (McLaren) won the last Sunday F1 race in Baku. The Australian started the race from P2 and stuck closely behind pole-sitter Leclerc (Ferrari) in the initial stages. Some favorable pit-stops and track positioning then saw him overtake the Monegasque driver on lap 20, snatching the overall lead. Almost at the end of the race Perez (Red Bull) and Sainz (Ferrari) crashed out in a dramatic incident. Russell (Mercedes) move up to P3 as the race finished under a virtual safety car. 

Norris (McLaren) finished fourth ahead of championship rival Verstappen (Red Bull).The Williams duo Albon & Colapinto crossed the line in an unlikely seventh and eighth position, respectively, with the latter bagging his first points in F1. Hamilton  (Mercedes), who started the race from the box, and Bearman (Haas) rounded  out the top 10. The Baku race marks the new McLaren leadership in the  constructors championship.  

Next year will be an interesting year for Ferrari with some new models already set to debut. Among them, the most awaited and anticipated will be the first fully electric model from Ferrari, This car is set to debut in 2025, but the company remains tight-lipped about its design and market positioning. 

However, fresh shots from Maranello streets from last week reveal what appears to be an early mule for the upcoming EV, featuring provisional components sourced from both Ferrari and Maserati models. The mule resembles a coupe-crossover turned into a giant sporty hatchback. Some parts, especially lights and profile, seem like directly from the Ferrari Roma.

The Californian nonprofit, One805, opened an online auction Wednesday with $265,000 worth of items including plus a $2.1 million Ferrari. The car  is a prototype PS1 Ferrari La Ferrari in its third phase from 2013. It is offered with 16 thousand miles, in red color with black and white  accents. This prototype is accredited with classiche certification. One805 raises money to help Santa Barbara County First Responders buy safety and life-saving equipment and provide  counseling. 

This auction is part of the upcoming One805 live concert at Kevin Costner's estate on September 20. The concert will feature artists including Pink, Kenny Loggins, and The Santa Barbara Symphony.

On September 1st Ferrari won Formula 1 GP in Monza, Italy, and Endurance Race for the World Championship (LeMans top class) in Austin, Texas. 2 victories at top World level in the same day, that never happened before ... maybe it is new Ferrari style :-) ...

Ferrari won the Italian F1 GP in Monza with a perfect race from Charles Leclerc and a perfect strategy from Maranello team, with just one pit-stop. Right after him, McLaren duo, Piastri on second place and Norris on third. It was a perfect day for Ferrari in its own circuit, with Carlos Sainz on the 4th place but one of the protagonist of the team victory, slowing down the two McLaren as much as he could, protecting in this way the Leclerc leadership.  Fifth place for Hamilton and his Mercedes. 

Only sixth place for the still leader of the general standing Verstappen (Red Bull). Russell (Mercedes) arrived only seventh after a terrible start. The start went all wrong for the pole setter Norris immediately passed by the team mate Piastri and Leclerc. Strategy and this perfect overtake at the very beginning, gave Leclerc a fantastic winning.  

Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman became the 6th different winners in FIA World Endurance Championship race this year by winning the Lone Star Le Mans at CotA in Austin, TX, following a late penalty for Toyota Gazoo Racing. The No. 83 Ferrari 499P finished 1.780 seconds ahead of the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid driven by Mike Conway, Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi after 6 hours of racing, and 3rd arrived another Ferrari 499P with Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco, and Nicklas Nielsen. 

Giovinazzi with the other Ferrari, after starting from pole ran into trouble after contact with the No. 94 Peugeot 9X8 at Turn 12 and subsequently retired, while the No. 83 car remained out front with a solid lead through halfway.

The first two Ferrari road cars have been lost to time, but New Zealanders Amanda and Philip still have, and regularly drive, the third example. This 1948 Ferrari 166 Inter, a right-hand-drive coupe, is the oldest Ferrari road car in the world. In 1948 this car would have been an incredible sight on the street, but more than that its 2-liter V12 would have been maybe the best sound to ever come from a car at that point. It only made about 90 horsepower, but it was perfect at that time. 

The car is now in New Zealand with its owners. They discovered the car many years ago while reading a magazine from Alaska, where they had been for some years. After many years of searching and researching the couple was able to restore and to put again on the road the car.

McLaren's Lando Norris ended Max Verstappen's unbeaten home record with a commanding Dutch Grand Prix victory and second win of his Formula One career. This happened despite Norris started wrong missing the first position right after the green light. But at the end of the race Red Bull's triple world champion Verstappen finished 22.896 seconds  behind, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc taking the chequered flag in third place. 

Norris's teammate Oscar Piastri was fourth, ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz with Red Bull's Sergio Perez sixth. The Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished seventh and eighth. Hamilton started from the fifteenth grid position.

After a long sunny day of presentation and prizes in many categories, the 73rd edition of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance celebrated the Best of Show Winner: a 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports presented by The Pearl Collection & Fritz Burkard. With its dropped body, lower center of gravity, very long wheelbase, this car is considered both a technical marvel and a masterpiece of industrial design. Only 6 were built. This particular sample took the podium at Monaco GP, as 3rd and a victory in Belgium.

Monterey cars week is just over and so also the cars auction week. It’s not yet possible to get all the selling results. However the experts are already pointing out how one of the most anticipated offers, the 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Scaglietti, has been sold for for $17,055,000. This car, with chassis number 1795 GT was the very first car produced of this series.  

Good result also for the kind of unique 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider Scaglietti, sold for $12,985,000. This racing car was built only four examples, its chassis number is 0592 CM, and it’s the most original of the four 410 S examples. Sold for $1,627,500 the 1966 Ferrari Supercast II Pininfarina. The 1995 Ferrari F50 changed ownership for $5,505,000. 

Always from the RM Sotheby’s catalogue, they have been sold for a price over a million: a 1966  Ferrari 275 GTB/6c Scaglietti ($3,481,000), a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4  NART ($5,285,000), a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona spider Scaglietti ($2,205,000), a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California spider Scaglietti ($5,615,000), a 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider Pininfarina ($2,810,000). Also the extravagant 1991 Ferrari F40 “Minty Forty” has  changed ownership for $1,792,500.

The winning Michael Schumacher Ferrari 310B from the 1997 Monaco Grand Prix is back on the circuit. Nowadays, the car is owned by 80-year-old Erich Zech. The German was already in Assen last year, but back then the car was not ready for action. Earlier this month, the 310B was finally seen on track. It was phenomenal," admitted Zech. "What I loved the most and what touched me was the reaction of the fans. They stood up and applauded, which was great to witness”. 

Zech has fulfilled his boyhood dream at a respectable age. "I used to watch Schumacher's races and also went to the grand prix when it was still in Hockenheim." 

There  is no such thing as an “ordinary” F40. A car with such a pedigree, with such outrageous design, such compelling performance, and of such rarity, could never be anything but spectacular.

The  car will be offered at Monterey Car week among many others multimillion cars. Notable for being the last supercar developed during Enzo Ferrari’s lifetime, the F40 was a pure distillation of everything "Il Commendatore" had poured into his company over the preceding four decades. 

Historical context aside,  this one - starting from around 1.5 million offer -looks as everyone has to see showing how this machine got its enduring nickname: the “Minty Forty”, for its unusual color. 

Monterey car week is this week: like every year, we have a special page in this site here for Monterey car week 2024 listing all the most important events with the direct link to visit the official sites;

Ferrari is officially present. 

Monterey car week is about to start. Like every year, we have a special page in this site here for Monterey car week 2024 listing all the most important events with the direct link to visit the official sites.

Monterey car week  starts this weekend, officially on Friday the 9th. The "core" events are next week, and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance  is set as the closing event, on Sunday August 18th.

Ferrari is officially present, and it will host a series of special events for the 70th anniversary since the Maranello carmaker opened its first official dealership in US. Rm Sotheby's, Gooding & Co., Mecum, Broad Arrows and Bonhams organize the most important car auctions, and there are many other collateral events for automobilia and other car-related shows and gatherings.

The  current Ferrari F1 driver Carlos Sainz will join the Williams team starting from 2025. The 29-year-old Spaniard has been on the look-out for a seat for 2025 for a while after losing his Ferrari drive to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Sainz has had no shortage of suitors, with Williams, Sauber/Audi and Alpine all keen to get his signature – but it was James Vowles’ Williams  project that ultimately got the Spaniard’s seal of approval. 

Following many specialized outlets, the Sainz contract could have an addendum about the possibility to leave the British team during the 2025, or right after the end of the 2025 season. Sainz was a prospect for a seat in the Sauber soon-to-be Audi team.   

Monterey cars week is fast approaching and it is the premiere motoring event of the year. This year the Californian event will reach its peak when a truly iconic car will go on auction, specifically under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s. This time, it’s the glistening red 1957 Ferrari 625 TRC Spider, a star in the motorsport scene when it was at its most  glorious. The 0680 is one of just two 625 TRC Spider models,  factory-equipped with a unique larger 2.5-liter engine.

Currently, 0680 is fitted with a 3-liter Colombo short-block V-12 engine, providing 322 horsepower. The original 2.5-liter engine with matching numbers, however, is still included so the car can be transformed back into its original state with ease. The auction could reach the amount between 9 and 11 million dollars. 

It seemed a fantastic 1-2 for Mercedes, but about 2 hours after the finish came a twist: Russel (that won on track with a brave 1-pit stop strategy) was disqualified because the car was too light. So Hamilton, voted Driver of the Day (with the other Mercedes with no weight issues), got the victory (2nd in a row in 2 weeks), Piastri (McLaren) arrived 2nd, and Leclerc (started on pole position) third, on podium again. Fastest lap for Perez (Red Bull) who started from the second place on the grid.

Hamilton had a great start, from the third position on the grid, easily overtaking Perez and then Leclerc. After this, the seven time champion lost the first position just for the  pit stops different strategy, not being able at the very end to pass the teammate, few cents of second from him. Only 4th place for the reigning champion Verstappen (Red Bull), who started 11th  being penalized for replacing the power unit and 6th Sainz with the other Ferrari.  

(replaced after 2 hours when Russel was disqualified) With a completely different strategy about pit-stops, Russell (Mercedes) won the F1 Belgian GP with only 1 change of tires, being able to manage them until the very end. Second place for his teammate Hamilton with two pit-stops, voted Driver of the Day. Piastri (McLaren) arrived third. Fastest lap for Perez (Red Bull) who started from the second place on the grid. Only fourth place for Leclerc (Ferrari) after  starting from the pole position.

Hamilton had a great start, from the third position on the grid, easily overtaking Perez and then Leclerc. After this, the seven time champion lost the first position just for the  pit stops different strategy, not being able at the very end to pass the teammate, few cents of second from him. Only fifth place for the reigning champion Verstappen (Red Bull), who started 11th  being penalized for replacing the power unit. 

s largely anticipated, Ferrari is preparing to join automakers around the world with the introduction of its first fully electric vehicle.  According to some specialized outlets, the Ferrari first battery-electric vehicle would be ready in late 2025, with the car launching some time the following year. Ferrari boss Benedetto Vigna confirmed the news, telling that prototype testing is already well underway. 

"Consider that we have prototypes already on the road that have done several thousand kilometers, and we have in our company very qualified clients and test drivers," Vigna said.

The  young Australian F1 driver Piastri (McLaren) crossed the line to win his first grand prix at the Hungarian circuit, in front of Lando Norris who let his teammate overtake him after a long discussion on the team radio. It was a McLaren one-two, and after the race it seemed all the radio talks were already over. Lewis Hamilton comes home third after a collision with Verstappen, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth. 

Verstappen arrived fifth, but may yet be penalised for the collision with Hamilton late on. Sixth place for the other Ferrari driver Sainz, right before Perez (Red Bull) and Russell (Mercedes). With just one race (next week in Belgium) before the summer break, the Championship is more open than ever, even if  Verstappen is still first. 

The  seven times words champion Lewis Hamilton may continue racing until at least 2027 with the Ferrari F1 team, according to Prancing Horse F1 team boss Fred Vasseur.  Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Hamilton is set to join Ferrari starting from  2025, leaving the Mercedes team with whom he has driven for since 2013. 

The 39-year-old British driver just won the British Grand Prix last week, with Mercedes, claiming a record ninth win around the circuit. Hamilton's contract was originally suspected to run until the end of 2026, but Vasseur  - in a recent interview to the Financial Times- has now suggested he will still race for Ferrari in 2027. 

An online auction website has an exclusive car on sale: it's a 1985 Ferrari Testarossa Koenig Specials Competition Evolution II. When modifications were completed in 1986, this car's - a 4900cc twin-turbocharged engine - was pumping out a colossal 1000 horsepower, more power than a factory Testarossa and a contemporary Porsche 959 together. The 17" multi-piece wheels wear 335-mm wide tires, steamroller rubber for the time but perhaps not enough for full surge of all that turbocharged horsepower.

Fake versions of luxury goods is a never ending battle, but Ferrari refuses to throw in the towel no matter how many counterfeit items it captures. And the number of fakes Ferrari finds is a lot. Accordingly to some data released by the Italian luxury factory, they tracked, seized, and destroyed more than 400,000 knockoff items in 2023, including three whole cars. 

Ferrari doesn’t detail what those counterfeit cars were, but they had to be pretty good to catch their attention, and they were so good to be sold at very high prices. Not all the times the owners understand how rigorously apply the rules. So it’s about Ferrari make the buyer understand the legal consequences that they are facing. 

Lewis  Hamilton (Mercedes) won a partially wet F1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, after two years with no victory, reaching the incredible goal of nine victories on the hometown circuit. Hamilton victory not only set a record for the most wins at a single track by any driver in Formula 1 history but also showcased Hamilton's resilience and dedication to the sport, on the eve to join Ferrari from next year. Second place for Verstappen (Red Bull) who never had the pace to win the race.  

Norris (McLaren) was penalized by some team strategies but also showed a slower pace at the end of the race. Russell (Mercedes) started 1st but then, after losing some positions, was forced to retire due to a water system problem.  Fastest lap was set by Carlos Sainz with Ferrari, but the weekend was anyway difficult for his team, especially for Leclerc who finished 14th. Sainz, despite the fastest lap, arrived 5th with a 47 second gap from Hamilton and 35 seconds from Piastri (McLaren), 4th.   

With  a production deliberately limited to 3,000 units per year and a total circulation of around 12-15,000 units, Ferrari Purosangue went sold very quickly, with requests from old and new customers following one another and generating a parallel market. It is not too surprising if a famous German dealer from Lower Saxony, specializing in luxury cars, has displayed a Purosangue in its window at a crazy price: €916,300. It is well more than double the list price (which starts from €385,730).

An  incredible Austria GP gave an unpredictable podium. A slow second stop  for Verstappen (Red Bull) put Norris (McLaren) right on his tail with 15 laps to go. Norris lunged ahead at Turn 3 on lap 59 but had to give the position back as he ran wide. But their lead battle exploded there a few laps later, the pair colliding at Turn 3 and both receiving  punctures.

That opened the door for Russell to get the second F1 victory of his career. Second place was for Piastri (McLaren) and third for Sainz (Ferrari). Fifth place for Hamilton who received a 5 seconds penalty for  trespassing the white line when he was entering in the pit lane.  The other Ferrari’s driver Leclerc was forced to pit right after the start after a contact with Piastri at the first corner and he required a new front wing. Leclerc finished 11th.

Ferrari company just inaugurated a new solar-powered factory at the Italian historic Maranello site, where its much anticipated full-electric car will be produced. The factory is covering 42,500 sq. meters just north Ferrari campus. It will produce the group's legendary combustion engine cars as well as hybrids and the firm's first EV. Dubbed "e-building", the rectangular, 25m-high factory will be powered in part by more than 3,000 solar panels installed on the roof,  producing up to 1.3 Mwatts.

Verstappen (Red Bull) won the Spanish GP in Barcelon after failed to conquer the pole position on Saturday. Second position for the polesitter Norris (McLaren) and third place for Hamilton (Mercedes), after a very dab start. The race started with a duel between Norris and Verstappen and Russel (Mercedes) taking advantage of this and leading the race for a  while. Not such a great race for the two Ferrari cars, after a poor qualification day. 

They finished in fifth and sixth positions with Leclerc and Sainz. They also battled each others and touched wheels as Carlos Sainz moved past Charles Leclerc, complaining a lot with the team.

The Ferrari 499P that just won the 2024 edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans derives from the Ferrari 296 GTb/GTs. Other than the exterior paint color and Ferrari badging, what do these vehicles have in common?  The 499P Modificata and 296 Challenge both rock twin-turbocharged V6 engines. The two times Le Mans winner 499 P has an unit displacement of the 2,994 cc V6 engine of 120 (499cc is one cylinder), and two turbochargers mounted in a load-bearing rear position. 

However, the thermal unit is also joined by the Ers (Energy Recovery System), with a 272 HP electric motor dedicated to the front wheels only, equipped with differential and battery. The 296 instead doesn’t feature this kind of 4WD hybrid assistance.

Also, the entire 499P is not made "only to speed", but also "to last" as (or more than) a regular car, because only in this way it could win a exhausting race like Le Mans.  

After  coming back last year to one of the most iconic races, Ferrari made it two in a row as it outlasted Toyota to win a weather-affected 24 Hours  of Le Mans. Ferrari won on Sunday with the trio of Nicklas Nielsen, Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina crossing the line in the No. 50 car 14  seconds ahead of the No. 7 of Nyck de Vries, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez. The No. 51 Ferrari driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi finished third. 

Rain and fog brought out the safety car in the early hours of the morning with Ferrari jostling with Toyota and Porsche for top spot. But with dawn breaking, the racing resumed under a green flag with several teams  in contention. Then the no. 50 Ferrari managed to reach the front line and stay first despite a pit stop for a flapping door. 

German soccer champion Michael Ballack is a huge cars enthusiast. And he is the owner of some very unique cars. Among them, he has held a little-known one for 16 years in which he is the owner of the very first Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Ferrari's factory demonstration car, which was presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in 1960. Today, the man with 98 German national team games is selling this car, the first by Scaglietti, for about $15-$17 million through RM Sotheby’s.

Monterey Car Week is going to be in two months from now, however the different auction companies are already collecting cars. RM Sotheby’s has announced a few of the premier lots for their upcoming Monterey auction, and among the highlights is this 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider by Scaglietti. All 250 GT SWB California Spiders are special, of course, but this one even more so — because it's the very first one ever built.

Only 56 examples of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider were built between 1960 and 1963, constructed by Scaglietti in Modena, Italy. However, this is an opportunity to buy the first one that Ferrari ever made. If you want to be owner number six, though, you will need to be prepared to write a large check: the pre-auction estimate is $16,000,000–$18,000,000. 

Not a lucky weekend for the Ferrari team at the Montreal Canada F1 GP. On Saturday the Ferrari duo did not reach the phase 3 of qualification. On Sunday, after many problems and incidents during the first part of the race, both the cars were retired. The race was heavily influenced by the on and off rain and by a couple of incidents and the deployment of  the safety car. 

Verstappen (Red Bull) won the race, after him was Norris (McLaren) and third place for Russell (Mercedes). Russell started in pole but shortly after the start he began fighting with Verstappen and the McLaren cars, and at the end he had to defend the position against the teammate Hamilton, who arrived fourth and set the fastest lap, after starting from the seventh position. Fifth place for Oscar Piastri, the other McLaren driver. 

Giving the increase of popularity of F1 all over the world, Thailand is now a new contender for a race in South East Asia following talks in April between prime minister Srettha Thavisin and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. The Thai government is keen on a street race in Bangkok to boost  tourism, with Thai-owned Red Bull understood to be a key player behind the scenes in making the race happen.

There have also been talks with the South Korean port city of Incheon about a return of F1 to the Korean peninsula from 2026 or 2027 onwards. That means the 'Old World', as Domenicali calls it, has needed to catch up with well-heeled events in the Middle East and the Americas, which is easier to do for venues that can boast generous government subsidies.

A beautiful 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, once owned by the singer and pop legend Cher, is now up for auction. This classic car boasts a rich history, including ownership by noted racer Chris Cord and a long tenure with a third owner in San Francisco. 

This is one of  approximately 2,900 E-series models produced until July 1974, this  specific Dino is finished in its original Rosso Chiaro over Nero leather and features a 2.4-L V6 engine with triple Weber carburetors, a dogleg  five-speed manual transaxle and distinctive 14” Cromodora alloy wheels. The car also includes an ANSA exhaust system, a removable roof panel, air conditioning and power windows. The auction is still open. They already have reached the amount of half million dollars.

Charles Leclerc wins in Montecarlo with his Ferrari (see Ferrari Instagram account, https://www.instagram.com/scuderiaferrari/) Behind Leclerc, John Elkann, President Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, and Frederic Vasseur, boss of Ferrari F1. For the first time in the history a Monegasque wins in Monaco the F1 GP. Also Prince Albert toasts with Ferrari Brut on Podium. Carlos Sainz, with the other Ferrari, also on Podium as 3rd. 

Norris 2nd with McLaren and Norris 4th. Verstappen only 6th, Russel 5th and Hamilton 7th. The race was suspended for about half an hour because in the first lap a dramatic crash destroyed the Perez Red Bull and the two Haas, fortunately with no injuries at all for the drivers.

The Monaco F1 Gran Prix victory was extra special for Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team. Leclerc was on pole for the 3rd time In Monaco in 4 years, but he previously never finished on podium at his home race. The Monaco victory is also his first winning race since Austria in July 2022. “No words can explain that. It was the race that made me want to be a Formula 1 driver one day," the 26-year-old Monegasque Leclerc said. “Seeing so many of my friends on the balcony,  so many people I know. 

It means a huge amount to me.”The last 15 laps were the most difficult as I was realizing winning was really possible”.“I must say I was thinking about my dad,” Leclerc said of his late father. Ferrari returned also on the top of the Monaco podium after seven long years. Leclerc is the first Monegasque driver to win the hometown race in the F1 world championship era. 

Verstappen (Red Bull) won the Imola F1 GP in Italy but it was a fight  until the very last second with Norris (McLaren). The British driver was  able to chase the Dutch one especially in the very last part of the race. Third place for the home hero Leclerc on Ferrari. After them, the other McLaren with Piastri. Fifth place and a lot of frustration for the other Ferrari driver, Sainz. Sixth position for Hamilton (Mercedes) and seventh place for his teammate Russell. 

It was definitely not a good Sunday for the other Red Bull with Perez, and also for Alonso forced to  start very behind and never able to reach better positions. Next Sunday  the appointment in Monaco, where it’s not about the speed. Ferrari could  show a little bit more about their cars upgrades.

Former F1 champion Sebastian Vettel paid a touching tribute to Ayrton Senna this weekend in Imola, driving one of the three-times  world champion’s former cars. The Brasilian champion died 30 years ago at the Imola circuit. Vettel performed demonstration runs ahead of the Sunday’s grand prix as well as after qualifying yesterday. He drove a McLaren MP4/8, which he owns, and that was driven by Senna during his last season at the team in 1993. In the 1994 Senna switched team to the William’s one.

For his Sunday run Vettel wore overalls in the color of Senna’s helmet design. He also sported a helmet in the liveries of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger  who also died in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend.

The Indianapolis auction is Mecum's second-largest of the year, featuring an estimated 3,000 vehicles. In 2023, it brought in $113 million in total sales and this year is running through May the 18th. Headlining this year's Mecum Indy is the Frank Micoli collection, an Italian collection of 40 cars and 17 motorcycles. It includes nine Ferraris, four Alfa Romeos and four Fiats, plus a selection of Ducati, MV Agusta and other Italian-built motorcycles. 

Prices and models are varied, and you can find same very classic Ferrari cars, like some Maranello, or some Gran Turismo from different years, like the 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO, completely white and blue. The auction is also live online.

Ferrari's SF-24 will receive the first of 3 planned upgrade packages next week, when F1 heads to Italian soil for the first time in 2024. Team’s principal Fred Vasseur says: “Our competitors brought parts this [Miami] weekend, and it was not a game-changer. But it's also that when in qualifying you have four or five cars in 1/10, if you bring 1/10, it's a game-changer for the weekend. We don't have to think only about upgrades and development, it's also the job that we are doing on track". 

Ferrari also has announced a significant shuffle within its Formula 1 team, promoting Bryan Bozzi to be Charles Leclerc's new race engineer starting from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The move coincides with former engineer Xavi Marcos transitioning to a new role aimed at leveraging his extensive F1 expertise within Ferrari's broader programs. 

The British driver Lando Norris on McLaren won his first Formula 1 GP in Miami, beating championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull). The British was able to take advantage of a safety car deployment after a crash between Magnussen (Haas) and Sargeant (Williams). Norris then was able to keep the first position after Verstappen partially damaged his car over a curb. Third place for Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari. 

Team-mate Carlos Sainz survived a long duel with Piastri (McLaren) to take fourth, but at late night got a penalty for this duel (that seemed regular) and became fifth after Perez. Piastri, in the duel, had is front wing damaged and had to stop for a long time. 6th Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. 

Adrian Newey, the engineer behind the great Red Bull success in F1, is officially leaving the Austrian-Thai team. Ferrari are reportedly pushing hard to entice him over to Maranello for a dream team with 2025 signing Lewis Hamilton. Recently Newey met the Ferrari team principal Vasseur in London to discuss potentially going there, but we are still in the early stages yet. 

Ferrari is the likeliest place where Newey is going to finish his career, according to dozen people who know Adrian pretty well, and people connected to Ferrari. During  the last GP in Miami, many sources confirmed knowing there was a meeting, but nobody was able to confirm any details.

Jody Scheckter, the South African driver who won 10 world championship races from 111 starts during a topflight career that spanned from 1972 to 1980, is selling out his 12 cars from his personal collection into RM Sotheby’s Monaco sale on 11 May. The most important piece is his ground-effect 1979 Ferrari 312 T4 - the final car to help claim a drivers’ F1 title during Enzo  Ferrari’s lifetime. This particular one is the one he drove during the Belgian GP. 

He is selling also some other cars from his F1 carrier, like the McLaren from 1971. The total value of this very particular lot (with also many road cars, like the 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ sportscar that contested the 1961 and 1963 editions of the revered Targa Florio road race) is about $14 million. 

After 28 years, a Ferrari road car previously owned by Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger that was reported stolen at the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix has been located by London's Metropolitan Police. As Sports Illustrated reported, in 2023, Ferrari informed the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit about a potentially stolen car, and it was traced as a buyer attempted to import it from the UK to the US. 

Thru the years it was realized that the car - with an estimated value of over $350,000 - also had been shipped to Japan after being stolen. Berger, who raced in Formula 1 for 14 seasons, including for Ferrari, will now get back his prized possession with a value much appreciated. 

If  you are ready to spend $ 5 million in a not red Ferrari this is for you. This stunning 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I motor is the quintessential classic Italian car from the outside but the interior is where it really stands out. Designed by Italian car specialists Pininfarina, the gorgeous convertible car is certainly worth the almighty and it comes with the original chassis, engine, gearbox, rear axle and body. 

It’s in a simple yet clean white paint. Fully layered in an elegant turquoise Turchese leather interior, the front seats are such an incredibly rare find for a Ferrari. It was first introduced at the Genova Salon in March 1957. The car is being sent to the wealthy streets of Monaco to go under the hammer by the classic car auctioneers RM Sotheby's on May 10. 

Verstappen (Red Bull) beat Norris (McLaren) and team-mate Perez in a race that was twice interrupted by the safety car. The China F1 GP, finally back after 4 years stop. Some drama for the Ferraris drivers Leclerc and Sainz – who came close to touching at Turn 1. Leclerc arrived fourth and Sainz fifth. Alonso (Aston Martin) at the beginning of the race fought for the podium but finished seventh. Ninth and lace for Hamilton (Mercedes) who started from the 18th place and right after was even 19th.

Completely different story from the day before when Hamilton finished second during the sprint race, even leading the competition for a while before  Verstappen closed the gap starting from the back. Fourt and fifth place again- also in the sprint race - for Leclerc and Sainz, with even more problems between the two drivers.

The  coming two years will be very important for the Italian car brand Ferrari. In late 2025, it will introduce its first all-electric vehicle  and while little is known about this model, Ferrari will have to ensure  it’s good if it wants to convince its buyers that EVs are the way forward. Ferrari recently created a research center for battery cells with Bologna University and chipmaker NXP Semiconductors. 

However the production will always be done through external manufacturers, based on the know-how we hope to acquire through this research center. Benedetto Vigna said: “We cannot afford to take cells as black boxes”. 

A prototype car used to develop the Ferrari F12tdf is currently up for bid on Bring a Trail website. The vehicle may run, but it’s only capable of reaching a top speed of 15 mph. Yes, 15 mph. The car up for auction started out as a F12 Berlinetta modified for use as a test mule for an exclusive, track-focused version of the F12 (the tdf means Tour de France). As such, it’s got 6.3-liter V-12, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that routes power to the rear axle, and limited-slip differential.

Because it’s a prototype, the car lacks some of the refinement one expects from Ferrari. It also features a “Vehicle Not Street Legal” notice affixed to its frame. Two other similar example cars were sold for almost $ 1 million.  

Verstappen (Red Bull) won again in Japan at Suzuka F1 GP, after a race characterized by a double starts, after RB's Ricciardo crashed with Williams' Albon and both spun off into heavy impacts with the barriers. Perez (always Red Bull) arrived second and Sainz with his Ferrari took third to maintain his 100 per cent podium-finishing record in 2024. 

Charles Leclerc, the other Ferrari  driver, finished fourth, thanks to an unconventional one-stop strategy after a poor qualifying had left him eighth on the grid. Norris (McLaren), who started third was overtaken by both the Ferraris. Another disappointing performance by the Mercedes’ cars, with Hamilton  struggling because of some understeer problems. 

A rare 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi is up for auction. This car - kind of a Magnum P.I. style fast car - was originally designed by Leonardo Fioravanti, was first shown to substantial acclaim at the 1975 Paris Salon. It was a successor to the Dino, but it wore true Ferrari badges, and this example is powered by the comparatively durable 2.9-liter V-8 with the Bosch K Jetronic fuel injection. 

This Ferrari is no trailer queen, with just under 80,000 miles showing on the odometer and it comes with multiple options, including fog lights,16-inch, five-spoke wheels with Continental ExtremeContact Sport tires, and air conditioning.